The Davenport Collection
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Douglas Beaufort

John Nevil Maskelyne’s Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee speculation

John Nevil Maskelyne’s Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee speculation

1897 was the 60th year of Queen Victoria’s reign. There were to be Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and Maskelyne saw an opportunity to make a good profit by building a Grand Pavilion with a view of the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral, where the ceremony was to take place. Unfortunately, the speculation did not turn out well. Dr Dawes draws on many sources to tell this story. We meet David Devant and Douglas Beaufort and learn about some rather surprising litigation that resulted from Maskelyne’s initiative.